Self-aligning quick disconnect coupling



Dec. 22, 1953 J. R. SNYDER 2,663,315

SELF-ALIGNING QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING Filed July 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l f2: V'EH Lap E5- JZ @fWFLL s Dec. 22, 1953 J. R. SNYDER 2,663,315

SELF-ALIGNING QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING Filed July 26, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 .52 VEJ'ILUF Jacob B11512 622 941?! Dec. 22, 1953 J. R. SNYDER 2,663,315

SELF-ALIGNING QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING Filed July 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z4 f2? VEIZLUF Jacob EzzsfzSnyder Patented Dec. 22, 1953 gee-3,315.

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' GOUPLINGg it IaeoBWRus IL smgflemgGlveland; Oliio, assignor t'o Thum 1 corgofatign'of Shit?" Profdilc'ts; Inc. Cleveland Ohig a.

m bhn pa ss,ane,. rrangectlfn ca neatinnnwith,

the end 6f a conduit adjptii to establish afiilild... 20.

1339555153, be ween mul ip-leatanksnunden wa er, of

R' enm. "eisplitrotata 'c l'md niuggmetal zhebflx cQnnec Weepn: fltui flow betw en tlie parts; nbn i ni im v pun ng; pa t1 fnr, s alin the respect ve; ports;- me re unwupledlsa as; to nrevent'.

a xam et on; Iz Qced re -"reqyi h t tn thud: nesfmldqn tl ie wat rbe pnne teiq and idiscQm nq tesit ro im iw g hqe. r sentmv ntinnjon mnl t th rnrpv n 'a.se f i nih poue pling-havin an; rnd ygdeye bnfid qfisetel'eva tion fprmin flfa k stza dfli ywast's ructu n he coupling-elements: offset shelfpprtionispy'p'j 6. Valve ispreta nedtin e ch vidif div-one elementwhich defines at; keywaw with tapered finding ends and a locating- $119111 derthenein. A; key- 1s: provided for the otlier couplin element ia-ndtnastapfprotnudifrge lbcaflflg:

' shoulder 'thereqmsoethatietheaccxupiin ielements mayc: b'ee slidingiyr assembiedri. with:compvanratwee i thee-my; mili &ippsit ilfilyi noeitmnedzi 1. eealigmthe nunlingi'e ememsz sil n t, keb a .r fancy} derrrotattiqnne nisge mbein tcsmn eted om sconnectedm Anobiect. of the: present inventionthet'efbrez is to, provide a self afigning quick. dijsizonneetL coupling,

A further objectojnthetinvention is to provide.

a key and keyway structure for aquiak. disconr nect. coupling, whereby v aJig-nment..,oj coupling parts may-be. facilitated frame, remote'point Anothen. abject; of the present invention is. to, prominent multipletank' assembly whereby 3,;pI11- rality of tanks may. Be pl'aeeiinnfluidi; commnnig catiQnkWith. one. another; from.artennxitiew point as; for exampIe, when the tank' assembly! is cbmp1ete1y, submerged in at considerable" depth.v ef 11111116..

Yjat; annther, objectofltheinventibn;istto1pm? vide a selfsealihgjcoupling Whichmay'bB quickly i ned: to .facilitatethe coupling operation.

Many Qthen features, advantages. and/addb bna bjects, of? the. present invention will .become; manifest. t9 tfiosetvereedin' therant ugon making refenenceth the.'detfailgrdescription,which fdllbwsi jand'i tlie, annexed. sheets of! drawings WhiQhLbyIWaX of ii pmferredlexamplegillustrate;a preferredfembodiinent of tkie invention.

nthe. drawin 7 Figure. 11. afsomewhat diagrammatic elevattionali'view with nartsnml-section showingarmuL- tipJe' submerged. t'an'k assembly. in accbrdance:

withthejinvention; r v

Figure an; el'evatibnal. View ofI a= quick connect" oupl ng, according to. the present. inventiomshqwingi a; mtatingtbol, partly in: section,

ceppera tively associatediwith' thesplin valve qr. v

plug of thei'coupjingi 1 Ei'gureafis' an enmrgedffragmentary view of; the multiple" tam: assembly shown in Figure 1"; with some' o Pth'e" quickdisconnect: COUQIifigfCOM- ponents disposed'in as lb'cating positibn";

Ei'g-ure t is aeview similartn-Figurefl"but show= mg the? quick disconnect? coup'1ing'=' components di'sposedinzafiovwpnsitirf;

,Eigure: irziS am enlarged: and! elevational' View with: parts; broken: away :arrdi withzvparts in section 8110M -g- ;;additi'onahdetai1"s: ofzcnnstruction:

present-in ention;

Eigynei (it is. aflpersneqtivewiewa on a. i'GYGISi blBi y mnloyed in. the .nresent jinven-tiom- Eigyna'ti 1517a; cross sectional View, oiiag quick disconnect-cgu-plin; according? toethee inventionz g and: V

Figure84s:vgflcross-seati0na1 ;view -taken onfilineq. VIII-VIII of Figure 7.

Asashown nn thedrawingg:

3 disconnect coupling disclosed in the present invention can be successfully employed wherever it is necessary to facilitate the alignment of coupling parts from a remote point, the invention will be explained in connection with its application to a submerged tank installation since such an application presents an environmental condition wherein alignment for a coupling operation is especially difficult.

Referring generally to Figure 1, a tank l and a tank II arranged in predetermined spaced relationship are shown submerged beneath the surface of a considerable depth of water W held in a container l2.

A conduit I3 is arranged between the tanks l0 and II to establish a fluid passageway therebetween. A pair of quick disconnect couplings l4 constructed in accordance with the present invention are associated with the conduit I3 to accomplish selective connection and disconnection of the submerged fluidline. As shown in Figure 1, a lengthy rotating tool l6 may be provided so that the couplings l4 may be operated from an accessible locale above the surface of the body of water W.

Referring now to Figures 2, 5, 7 and 8, the reference numeral I4 designates generally a coupling according to this invention composed of a male coupling box IT, a female coupling box 18, and a split rotatable valve or plug [9 carried by the coupling boxes and composed of half sections I9a and I913.

The male coupling box I! has a flat end face with internally threaded holes extending inwardly for receiving fasteners which may be passed through a perforated flanged end portion of a short length of conduit extension 13a fixed in fluid communication with one of the tank units II) or II. An upstanding semi-circular flange 21 is provided on the top of the coupling box I! in inwardly spaced relation from the end face thereof. The male coupling box I! is'further provided with a port Ila, to pass fluid'therethrough.

The bottom wall portion of the male coupling 11 is characterized by the provision of semi-circular stepped grooves I'lb (Figure 7) on the inner face thereof and is further provided with an offset shelf portion 22 formed as an integral part of the coupling section but extending downward- :7

ly and laterally away therefrom (Figure 2).

The offset shelf portion 22 defines extending arms 22a and 2212 (Figures and 8) and a relatively centrally located reduced dimension portion identified by the reference character 220. H

The reduced dimension portion 220 of the offset shelf portion 22 is provided with a key slot or keyway 23 having tapered finding ends 23a (Figure 3). Suitable perforated windows 24 are provided in the bottom of the keyway orkey slot 23 so as to provide an escape passage for dirt and other foreign particles which might impair efficient operation of the coupling structure The keyway 23 is preferably arranged to lie on tiered level so that the level of the tapered l1 and is also provided with a plurality of inwardly extending threaded holes for receiving fasteners 20 adapted to pass through the flange end portion of a conduit similar to the conduit l3, The female coupling box I8 is further provided with an upstanding semi-circular flange 26 on its top portion and defines a port 18a for passing fluid therethrough.

The bottom wall of the female coupling box I8 is characterized by the provision of stepped semicircular grooves I 813 (Figure 7) and is further provided with a fiat bottom face on its outer side which is broken by a recessed slot which is adapted to seat a key member as will hereinafter be more fully described.

The coupling boxes I1 and [8 are constructed in such a manner as to define an open top cylindrical chamber when placed together in abutting relation so as to receive. the rotatable valve or plug IS in cooperative association therewith.

The male section I 9b of the plug or valve l9 has a semi-cylindrical wall which terminates in its top portion in a radially extending flange 21 having a depending lip portion 21a. A protuber-- ance or lug in the form of a half section of a. hexagonal nut is provided on the top of the male: section I91) and is identified by the referencecharacter 28. The protuberance or lug 28 is: characterized by a tapered section 28a which re-- sembles a half section of a cone.

The bottom portion of the male section IQ!) of. the valve or plug [9' is provided with stepped bead portions which are adapted to cooperate: with the semicircular stepped grooves llb (Figure '7).

configuration and through which extends a bore 29. V

The female section I9a of the valve or plug I9* is also provided with a semi-cylindrical wall terminating in its upper portion in a radially extending flange 30 having a lip 30a. An upward-- ly extending protuberance or lug 3| taking the: form of a half section of a hexagonal nut and. also having a tapered section 3Ia in the form of a half section of a cone is provided in the same manner as previously described in connection; with the male section 19b.

The bottom portion of the female section 19a: of the plug or valve l9 defines a series of stepped. beads which are adapted to cooperate with the: grooves lBb formed in the female coupling box I8.w

One side of the female section I9a of the valve: or plug I9 is recessed laterally inward whereby the female section I9a is adapted toilie in cooperative abutting relationship with the semi-- cylindrical offset portion formed on the male section l9b.

Both of the sections of the valve or plug l 9 are provided with suitable counterbored apertures 32 through which extend a pair of pins 33 having keys 33a on the ends thereof which are adapted to overlie and ride on the outer faces of the up-- standing flanges 2i and 26 formed on the coupling boxes I! and I8, respectively. Each of the pins 33 is resiliently biased by a spring 34 fastened to the ends of the pins and shouldered in the counterbored portion of the apertures 32.

A seal assembly is located in each of the ports Ila and "la of the male and female coupling boxes I! and I8, respectively. As may best be seen in Figures '7 and 8, the seal assembly in- 39"is provided (Figured) which -has--a-body portion 39c adaptedto" slide in the-keyway 2 3: A pair; ofspacedupstanding -lugs 3:9 lrsuitablv perlorated" by counterboredj apertures are provided for the key 39150" that; the key w maybefirmly timed to the. female coupling box"-lakbymeans of'suitable fasteners fifl'which arethreadedly' receivable ina' pair ofinward-ly'extending internal- 1y threadedjbores {8d formedin: the female couplingbmc i8* ('Figure'-5).

- The bottom: portion of thekey-Blt-is provided with a dependingshoulder 3 96 extending long-itudinally thereof-which is adapted-*to function as a'locating shoulder so that movemen-tof the key 3--relativeto-theikeywayfl will belimited-when the shoulder 39c abuttingly -engages the locating shoulder 'defined by -the upstanding central portion located between-thewindowapertures -24 in h k w rr t' Itw:ill be apparent that the construction of thekey 39i-is such as to-make-it especially-adaptable for reversible use. Thus; the key maybe .2

employed," on eitherta: right hand orleft hand coupling box with equal efiiciency;

I 'n operation, reversible, keys 39 are quicliiyassenrbied to the female coupling boxeslii; which are, in turn, affixed to the ends of acondw'stt3 ogappropriatelength for establishing-afraid passage, between a multiple tanlr assembly as shown ine surel, r r Complementary male "coupling boxes H are aifixed onthe' ends of-the condlntyextensi'ons 13c afilxedto the sides, ofthe multiple tank units- I!) and I tandare, thereby spaced irornone another according to a predetermined relationship.

' Prior -to;compl'eteassembly; the male section l'9-lr of the-valveor plug l9 is carried bythemale coupling-bow i-Tand the female section l 90: ofthe valve or plug ii I 9- i's carried by the female coupling be l=8a- It=-will-' be understood that the male and female sectionsof the valve or plug-l d-wi-lL-prior to complete assembly, bein a closed position as shown in'Figures 'Tand 8--so that theports [la and lBa w'illbe eflectivelyseal'ed in each of the respective couplingboxes;

It will alsobe apparent that the arms 22a and flbof the shelf portion 22' formed on each male connector-4'1 will lee-substantially disposed dn aligned position whenernployedfi-n' the quicls disconnect coupling adapted for-use-on: a multiple tank----assembly-'-similar-to the-embodiment herein describedaby way "of illustrative-example: Thus, es -an entire coupling comprising-the conduit 1 I3 having the female connectors I'B' afii-Xedto the ends-thereofis moved-toward a connecting positicin'th'evarious- -elements-- will approach-alocatl ng position shown in Figure- 3".-

As the-entirecouplingigshifted; thekey- 39 on 'each respectiveiemale coupling-box' -l-l maybe easily directed toward the general direction of the-tapered finding: ends 23a oi thekeywayslor key slotsv 23. Further lateralifmovementi oi the entire couplingwill result in :the: engagement of the keys 39 in the restricted portions of thekeyways or keyslots23 andthe inner bottom face of each respective femalelcoupling: box l8'will tend tobecome aligned with-the facepresented by the corresponding: offset shelf 'portion 22:

It willbe noted thatthe keys 38 will-permit positioning of the entire-couplingrelative to -the male coupling boxes ll without-interference until the-shoulder 39c positively alignseach= female coupling box l8 relative-to its complementary mating male coupling box i through'abutting contaetengageinent with theraised portion of the keywayor key slot 23.

It, will also be noted that the-protruding 1 per-- tions or lugs 28- and-Bl-on-the sectionalizedvalve or plug l9; when brought together, develop into a hexagonal shape nut suitable for applying a turning tool such as a socket wrench orthe lengthy tool l fi illustrated in the drawings. The tapered-ends 28c and 31a of the protrusions and 31- facilitate the-positioning of the-turning tool I6 relative to the'hexagonally shaped integral bossor lug.

When the female coupling boxes ldof-the-entire coupling assembly are positioned'in the keyways or-key slots 2305 the off e shclifpcrii ns'fi, the bottoms of the female coupling boxests will be firmly held together so that when the-turning tool I6 is positioned entire-hexagonalshaped lug, the top portions of each-female coupling box: M; will be forced into, its respectivet-urning position relativetoa cprresponding male coupling box I! so that the sectionalized valve vor-plug lii'maybe turn-ed from itsdisconnect-position (Figure 3) to a flow, or 'corn'ect posit-ion (Figure 4).

,When the sectionalized valve'or-"plug l9- is rotated, the, bead portions on the lower part of 'the valve or'plug' I9 will ride in-the semi-circular grooves ill) and {Shin such-a manner-thata portion ofthevmale section; ltbpfthej valve-or plug lfl'will-bereceivedfby the female coupling box lt and likewise, aportion of therfeinale'sem tion 19a of' the valve or plug l9'will'b1e received by the, male coupling box ll; Rotative movement through a one quarter revolution-,of'the valve'or plug Iii will place the horezfiin axial alignment with the ports ilcrand' i811 thereby joini the coupling boxesin fluid flow relationship.

It will be apparentthat a particularfeature oi the key and keyway structure herein provided re,- sides inthe fact thatthe danger of jamming the valve or plug lQ-inthe mating grooves llh and lab is substantiallynrecludedbeeausethe respective coupling :boxes will be-firmly -supported when in operating position. This feature is.: es pecially desirable inasmuch as the danger of damaging thegcou-pling components-through .the: application or; misdirected-torune-forces is greatly reduced: I

,In order to retain the assembledi-partslinflow position and a order. that the male and a. female sections cfsthe-valve or plug lfi maybe-retained in their set positionsw-hile the coupling portions are being connected or disconnected; the" up standing flanges 2i and 260i the maleor female coupling boxes [l and l8, respectively, mayobe provided with a-pluralityof spaced indentations, one-or which, by way of'example, is shownat on the broken section of the right hand coupling Id of Figure 4. It will-be-understood that one of the-springbiased pins 33 'with the vertical-keys 33a riding on the outer face -or-theupstanding 7 flanges 2| and 26 will fall into an appropriate indentation 4! whenever the valve or plug sections 19a and 1% are rotated through a quarter turn.

The female coupling boxes [8 may also be provided with appropriate stops 42 (Figures 3 and 4) which cooperate with suitable lugs 43 defined by the female section Isa of the valve or plug I9 so as to position the valve elements in either flow position or disconnect position.

It will be apparent that I have described a coupling assembly which provides an economical and eificient means for connecting and disconnecting fluid conduits which are so situated as to necessitate manipulation from a remote locale.

It will also be apparent that I have described .an improved quick disconnect coupling which is uniquely suited to accomplish self-alignment and which may be effectively used to place passageways of complementary coupling boxes in full fluid fiow communication.

It will be understood, of course, that a person skilled in the art might suggest various minor modifications to the preferred embodiment herein described by way of illustrative example only, however, I do not propose to be limited to the precise details set out for the sake of clarity but wish to embrace within the scope of this patent all such modifications as reasonably and properly fall within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A multiple fluid flow conduit assembly comprising, in combination, at least two conduit units arranged in spaced relationship and a selfaligning coupling assembly therefor; including a conduit for establishing a fluid passage between said conduit units, female parts on each end of the conduit, male parts on each of the conduit units, said male and female parts comprising complementary elements with ports therein for fiuid flow therethrough, each of said male parts being provided with an offset shelf portion defining a key slot with tapered finding ends and a keyway shoulder therein, each of said female parts carrying a key defining a locating shoulder to cooperatively abut the shoulder in said key slot, a multi-piece valve rotatably mounted in each cooperating pair or" said male and female parts to detachably connect the same, and means retaining a portion of said valve in each part for sealing the ports when the parts are disconnected, whereby said coupling assembly may be positively aligned by the coaction of said keys and said key slots for selectively placing said conduit units in fluid communication with one another upon rotation of said valves.

2. A coupling comprising a pair of complementary parts having ports therein for fluid flow therethrough, a multi-piece valve rotatably mounted in both of said parts to detachably connect thersame, means retaining apiece of said valve in each part for sealing the ports when the parts are disconnected, and a latch assembly associated, with said parts for aligning same in connect and disconnect position including an offset shelf portion of one of said parts defining a key slot having tapered finding ends and a locating shoulder therein and a key carried by the other part and defining a protruding locating shoulder, said key being slidably receivable in said key slot and both of said locating shoulders being engageable in abutting relationship to accurately position the complementary parts for selective coupling connection.

3.v A coupling comprising a pair 'of complementary coupling boxes having passageways therethrough and together defining an open top chamber intersecting said passageways, a split plug valve rotatably mounted in said chamber, an offset shelf on one of said coupling boxes defining a keyway, and a key on the other of said coupling boxes receivable in said keyway, said key having a protruding shoulder, said key being slidably cooperable with said keyway to guide the boxes toward an operating position, and a locating shoulder in said keyway engaging said shoulder of said key only when said boxes are in predetermined alignment to accurately position the boxes for valverotation. v 4. A coupling comprising a pair of complementary coupling boxes having passageways therethrough and together defining an open top chamber intersecting said passageways, a split plug valve rotatably mounted in said chamber and having a grooved fiange overlying the mouth of the chamber, upstanding flanges on the coupling boxes to seat in the groove of the overlying flange, indentations in said upstanding flanges, spring biased pins extending through the plug parts having keyson the ends thereof adapted to ride on the outer face of the up standing'fiange for selective seating in said indentations whereby rotation of the plug parts will be limited, an offset shelf on one of said coupling boxes defining a keyway having a shoulder, and a key on the other of said coupling boxes receivable in said keyway, said key defining a protrudinglocating shoulder, said. key and keyway slidingly aligning the boxes toward an operating position determined by the abutment of the locating shoulder with the shoulder in said keyway, said spring biased pins operative to'selectively retain the plug parts in a pre-set position when said boxes are being aligned and when said plug parts are in an assembled flow position.

5. In a self-sealing coupling of the type having complementary ported housing sections with a multi-piece valve rotatably mounted therein for selectively connecting said sections, the improvement of a shelf oifset from one of said housing sections and having a keyway formed therein, and a key carried by the other of said housing sections arranged to be cooperatively received by said keyway for aligning the sections in coupling position, said key having a locating shoulder, and said keyway having a depressed portion providing a locating stop engageable with said shoulder to limit the relative movement of said key in said keyway, said shoulder and said locating stop arranged to engage at a predetermined stop position, and mating lugs projecting from the sections of said multi-piece valve and together forming a wedge shaped turning head with a converging leading end for directing a turning tool into position thereon, whereupon application of the turning tool over the turning head will completely mate the housing sections for the coupling operation.

6. A coupling comprising a pair of complementary coupling boxes having passageways therethrough and together defining an open top chamber intersecting said passageways, a split plug valve rotatably, mounted in said chamber, an offset shelf on one of said coupling boxes defining a keyway, a key on the other of said coupling boxes receivable in said keyway to slidingly guide the boxes toward an operating position, and a shaped protruding mating lug on each of the sections of the split plug valve extending outside of the coupling boxes and together with one another forming a. wedge shaped tool receiving nut, whereby a turning tool may be positioned over said lugs to force the coupling boxes into turning position and to actuate said split plug valve.

JACOB RUSH SNYDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Lunt Feb. 19, 1895 Eibee Aug. 28, 1900 Witmer June 30, 1914 Ducksworth July 14, 1914 Gaston Jan. 30, 1917 Jollifi Dec. 31, 1918 Luff Oct. 6, 1942 Hufierd Aug. 10, 1943 Snyder et a1. Aug. 29, 1944 Snyder Apr. 30, 1946 McKay Mar. 14, 1950 

